NCCI wary of IEPA

ALTHOUGH the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) endorses the Government’s decision to finalise the interim economic partnership agreement (IEPA) with the European Union, the organisation remains unconvinced about the recently signed trade deal.

Addressing a press conference in Windhoek yesterday, NCCI Chief Executive Officer Tarah Shaanika said the chamber was wary of the implications of the agreement – which will see Namibian exports to the EU continue after the end of this year. The NCCI believes the new deal is not in the interest of individual African economies, and expressed disappointment with the absence of measures within the agreement to protect Namibia’s infant industries.”We are extremely worried about the provisions of the IEPA which may end up the same in the permanent EPA.This agreement has potential to undermine our regional economic integration within SADC and seriously affect the existence and growth of our local industries,” he said.He added that NCCI hoped that the shortcomings in the IEPA and various concerns would be addressed sufficiently during the next rounds of negotiations.”Equally we hope and pray that SADC member states and indeed the entire ACP group remain united and stand firm in addressing issues of concern to us throughout the next rounds.”Shaanika also touched on the new Labour Bill, which has received mixed feelings from the private sector, saying the NCCI had faith that the amended Act would benefit the business sector rather than stifle economic growth.”We (NCCI) feel that the Labour Act must be a catalyst for positive change in our economy and should encourage investments and employment creation,” he said.On the achievements of the year, Shaanika said NCCI had increased its membership by 17 per cent to more than 2 000 members countrywide.Shaanika said in the new year the NCCI would focus mainly on capacity building for small and medium enterprises.The NCCI in conjunction with the Polytechnic of Namibia will run the International Trade Management Programme designed to build competence within the SME sector.The NCCI believes the new deal is not in the interest of individual African economies, and expressed disappointment with the absence of measures within the agreement to protect Namibia’s infant industries.”We are extremely worried about the provisions of the IEPA which may end up the same in the permanent EPA.This agreement has potential to undermine our regional economic integration within SADC and seriously affect the existence and growth of our local industries,” he said.He added that NCCI hoped that the shortcomings in the IEPA and various concerns would be addressed sufficiently during the next rounds of negotiations.”Equally we hope and pray that SADC member states and indeed the entire ACP group remain united and stand firm in addressing issues of concern to us throughout the next rounds.”Shaanika also touched on the new Labour Bill, which has received mixed feelings from the private sector, saying the NCCI had faith that the amended Act would benefit the business sector rather than stifle economic growth.”We (NCCI) feel that the Labour Act must be a catalyst for positive change in our economy and should encourage investments and employment creation,” he said.On the achievements of the year, Shaanika said NCCI had increased its membership by 17 per cent to more than 2 000 members countrywide.Shaanika said in the new year the NCCI would focus mainly on capacity building for small and medium enterprises.The NCCI in conjunction with the Polytechnic of Namibia will run the International Trade Management Programme designed to build competence within the SME sector.